Dog Wanders Michigan for 2 Days with Arrow in Her Head

A Michigan man allegedly shot his dog through the head with an arrow because she had been aggressive toward his other dog and had been difficult to housebreak. (Screenshot via WDIV-TV)

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A dog that wandered Michigan’s Thumb area for two days with an arrow through her head is expected to survive, but the dog’s owner faces cruelty charges for allegedly shooting the dog with his crossbow because she acted aggressively toward his other dog.

Aimee Orn, chief animal control officer for Lapeer County, told the Detroit Free Press it’s “a miracle” the dog, a 2-year-old black retriever named Gemma, survived at all.

“It missed everything important by millimeters,” Orn said.

The arrow penetrated the area right above Gemma’s left eye and exited the roof of her mouth, missing both the optic nerve and the brain.

The 50-pound Gemma may owe her life to a construction worker who saw her Monday and called authorities with Lapeer Animal Control, who hope to place the dog in a new home.

Authorities had been alerted to be on the lookout for Gemma after receiving a tip from the owner’s relatives, who said they’d heard rumors the 28-year-old Goodland Township man had allegedly taken Gemma to the country to dispose of her.

After allegedly shooting the dog with the crossbow, he allegedly left her to roam without ensuring the shot had been fatal.

The owner hasn’t been charged, but felony cruelty charges are expected, Orn said.

Besides displaying aggression toward his other dog, a pug, Emma was difficult to housebreak, the man allegedly said.

Regardless of the man’s reasons, Orn said, “there are too many other options these days if you don’t want a dog other than taking it out in a field and shooting it,” Orn said.